Charly Chan's Restaurant Kensington..YUMMY! Can't wait to go back!!

[sazo]

I'm visiting from Toronto and 2 of my friends took me to Charly Chan's Restaurant. Now this restaurant is not your typical chinese restaraunt, especially in Toronto. The dining room is very clean, the staff is super friendly, and the service is wonderful. There was one older lady who works there and she was awesome! She knew everyone that walked in the door...she was hugging customers as they were coming and leaving.

We first started with Spring Rolls, they had a choice of vegetarian and regular with the pork and chicken. They were nice and crisp, not oily at all. The plum sauce that it came with was nice and balanced..sweet and tangy. The pan fried wontons came next, they were to die for!! These are different from the dumplings on the menu. These pan fried wontons are made with chicken and veggies and had a nice ginger taste to it.

Being from Toronto, our version of Ginger Beef is different from the Alberta Ginger Beef. The ginger beef here was spectacular, it was nice strips of beef, lightly battered in a tangy sweet and sour sauce. The presentation was excellent, it was served on a sizzling platter. It's something about the sizzle that makes the food taste so much better! The next dish was the Salt and Pepper Seafood....this dish was perfectly done. I know a lot of Chinese places make their batter to thick and you are trying to find the calmari inside a batter of fried dough! Not in this case...the scallops, shrimp, and calamari were lightly dusted with batter and fried perfectly and stir fried with onions, green + red peppers and chilli...so tasty! Definitely worth the calories!!! We also ordered a plate of Szechuan noodles, hot and spicy shanghai noodles stir fried with pork, chicken, shrimp, and chinese cabbage served all on a sizzling plate.. It was delicious and I slurped up the noodles!

We finished our meal off with dessert. I ordered the Banana Spring Rolls with Ice cream...again I was impressed. It was a nice contrast with the piping hot spring rolls and the ice cream in your mouth. The bananas in the spring rolls melt right in your mouth. My friends ordered the candied and apple banana fritters. It was a huge portion, there were at least 10 pieces. I had a piece of the apple fritter and I enjoyed the hard texture of the carmel on the outside with the soft gooey centre of the apple. Good contrast.

All in all, it was a delightful meal. They definitely need to have a Charly Chan's in Toronto. The food is well priced, huge portions, clean dining room, friendly service..especially the older lady...she reminds me of everyone's mom! She's a treat to watch..you can tell she really likes her job and is so kind to all her customers! I will be in Calgary for the next few months for work and this will definitely be my stomping grounds! Well done Charly!

Anyone else have similar experiences?

[darsin45]

I used to hit up Chan's after school once a week when going to school at SAIT. That was about ten years ago and it was one of my favourite Chinese restaurants.

I heard that it's for sale...

[maclock]

I tried the food from Charly Chan's a few times, and I must confess that I didn't think it was anything special. It's a few notches above most strip mall and food court Chinese grub, but it doesn't have a patch on Chinese food turned out by more authentic places.

Why not try U & Me on Centre Street in Chinatown, close to the bridge? Some people seem to dislike the place, but it has turned out some pretty good Chinese food over the years. Check out its website: http://www.uandmerestaurant.ca/.

[foodkarma]

Agreed with alau. I went a couple times because friends took me. The dishes were definitely westernized hot and sour soup, lemon chicken, chicken cashew type dishes.

Personally, I'm not a fan of westernized Chinese food (confession: I don't like the Alberta style ginger beef). I grew up in a Chinese household and prefer more authentic, greasy, MSG, innards type dishes. Because of that, I'd go to Pebble Street, T.Pot, Calgary Court, or Forbidden City any day over Charly Chan's.

However, like I said that's my taste - I know other people including Chinese people who would like the westernized cuisine in which case Charly Chan's might be better to them.

[alau2]

Yes, innards! High five, foodkarma!

[foodkarma]

Love liver/kidney - especially over chow mein, which I haven't found in Calgary. Best I've found here is liver/kidney congee or liver in Chinese hot pot. Oh well.

[TSAW]

I grew up in small town Alberta, where the local chinese restaurant pretty westernized (as is in most small town alberta). I guess that's why I'm not a big fan of 'real chinese' food and love ginger beef! Inards..no thanks!! Good to know your take on it. thanks

[TSAW]

Does anyone else have any comments on this place? I haven't been myself, sadly, for as long as it's been there. I am not a huge fan of chinese food in general. But I do love a good ginger beef, which I haven't had in a long time! And yes, 'Calgary Style' ginger beef beats ALL!

[alau2]

Charly Chan's is a decent place for "Westernized" Chinese food, when you need to fill that craving for (as mentioned above) ginger beef and sweet and sour pork for example. It is clean and tidy. But I'd never take anyone there for "authentic" Chinese food. I've never seen Chinese people eating there.

[Jasz]

I've only been there once, had a lunch special, don't remember of what. I found it okay, not hurrying back but wouldn't avoid it if it came along. There are other Chinese places I certainly like better.

[23skidoo]

I haven't been in a few years, but I liked it. Way better than the Chinese take-out places near me in Marda Loop.

[John Manzo]

never eaten there, but thanks for the review.